Newly launched Career Tool helps OU students find majors and careers

Senior Academic Adviser Kate Hendershot, right, shows off OU's new Career Tool, which offers a wealth of information about majors and careers.

A new web-based tool is available to help current and prospective Oakland University students explore majors and careers.

The Career Tool, which is accessible by clicking the “Majors and Program Requirements” tab on the left side of OU’s advising web page, is the result of a multi-year project initiated by Career Services, the First Year Advising Center, Undergraduate Admissions, and University Communications and Marketing.

“Conversations about majors and careers go hand in hand. Students want to understand possible careers that align with a major just as much as they want to learn what majors might fit best for a career they are interested in,” said Sara Webb, director of the First Year Advising Center. “The Career Tool was designed to provide comprehensive information about majors and possible careers aligned with them in one place.”

With the tool, students can select an OU major and find academic information, such as the school/college, department and degree requirements, as well as career-related information, including possible career options, median salaries, education requirements and professional organizations. A section on related academic areas helps students connect to other majors and minors that may be of interest.

The tool will also help OU’s academic advisers guide students in making decisions about majors and careers, according to Senior Academic Adviser Kate Hendershot.

“The wealth of information the Career Tool provides makes it a valuable resource in the advising process,” Hendershot said. “No matter where a student is in their major and career planning, they can benefit from the tool.”